CHAPTER 6

(A.D. 58)

RESTORATION

¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault (pertains to moral failure, and is brought about because one has ignorantly placed himself under Law; such a position guarantees failure), you who are Spiritual (refers to those who understand Gods Prescribed Order of Victory, which is the Cross), restore such an one (tell him he failed because of reverting to Law, and that Victory can be his by placing his Faith totally in the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work, Who Alone can give the Victory) in the spirit of meekness (never with an overbearing, holier than thou attitude); considering yourself, lest you also be tempted (the implication is that if we do not handle such a case Scripturally we, thereby, open the door for Satan to attack us in the same manner as he did the failing brother).

²Bear ye one anothers burdens (refers to sharing the heartache and shame of one who has spiritually failed), and so fulfil the Law of Christ (which is Love!).

³For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing (refers to a Believer who puts himself above the one who has failed in his own eyes), he deceives himself. (This presents one who has the conceited idea he is morally and spiritually superior to what he actually is.)

⁴But let every man prove his own work (to put his Faith in the Cross to the test for the purpose of approving, which is done by seeing how well one obeys the Word of the Lord), and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone (the spiritual man sees himself as he really is, totally dependent on Christ and the Cross), and not in another. (He will not then be rejoicing over the other mans failure.)

⁵For every man shall bear his own burden. (When each Believer sees his own failings, which we all have, he will have no inclination to compare himself with others, at least as it regards a superior position.)

⁶Let him who is taught in the Word (refers to the act of receiving instruction) communicate unto him who teaches in all good things. (Let us not make the load of the God-called Teacher heavier by hindering him in some way, but rather let us encourage him.)

TWO DESTINIES

⁷Be not deceived (refers to the fact that a Believer can definitely be deceived; Paul is speaking primarily of Believers allowing false teachers to move their Faith from the Cross to other things); God is not mocked (God, in fact, is mocked when we substitute something else in place of the Cross): for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap (the Law of sowing and reaping, which will unfailingly come to pass).

⁸For he who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (those who make something else the object of their Faith, rather than the Cross, which means they are now depending on self-will); but he who sows to the Spirit (does so by trusting exclusively in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross) shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gods Prescribed Order of Victory).

GLORIFY GOD

⁹And let us not be weary in well doing (Paul continues to speak of sowing to the Spirit): for in due season we shall reap (in Gods Time, our Faith in Christ and the Cross will not go unrewarded, but will bring forth exactly that which is Promised by the Lord), if we faint not. (Many start the race, but do not finish. They give up after a while, exclaiming that the Cross doesnt work. Let all know and understand that we might fail, but the Cross never fails!)

¹⁰As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men(the Holy Spirit will help us do this, providing our Faith is ever in the Cross; otherwise, we will fail), especially unto them who are of the household of Faith. (There are many who are of the Faith, but really do not understand the Faith, so they walk in defeat. We are to give them the Message of the Cross, in order that they might walk in perpetual Victory [Rom. 8:2].)

¹¹You see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand. (This refers to the fact that Paul had written the entirety of the Epistle to the Galatians himself, which he normally did not do. Scribes generally wrote as he dictated, with him writing the postscript and signing his name.)

THE CROSS

¹²As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be Circumcised (the Judaizers were attempting to get the Galatians to embrace the Law along with Christ); only lest they should suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ. (The Message of the Cross brings forth persecution from both the world and the Church. It strikes at the very heart of all spiritual pride and self-righteousness.)

¹³For neither they themselves who are Circumcised keep the Law (engaging in the rite of Circumcision, which was the seal of the Law of Moses, didnt help anyone keep the Law); but desire to have you Circumcised, that they may Glory in your flesh. (Many in the Church glory in self-effort, but few glory in the Cross because it puts self-effort in its proper place.)

¹⁴But God forbid that I should glory (boast), save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (what the opponents of Paul sought to escape at the price of insincerity is the Apostles only basis of exultation), by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (The only way we can overcome the world, and I mean the only way, is by placing our Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ and keeping it there.)

¹⁵For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (blows all of mans religious ceremonies to pieces), but a new creature (new in every respect, which can only be brought about by trusting Christ and what He did for us at the Cross).

¹⁶And as many as walk (to direct ones life, to order ones conduct) according to this rule (the principle of the Cross), peace be on them, and mercy (which comes only by means of the Cross), and upon the Israel of God. (This refers to all who look to the Cross for their Redemption. They alone are the true Israel.)

¹⁷From henceforth let no man trouble me (dont listen to these false teachers): for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (This concerns the persecution he suffered because of the offence of the Cross [5:11].)

¹⁸Brethren, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (which comes by our Faith in the Cross)be with your spirit. (We worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, and the Cross is that Truth.) Amen.